2010 WORLD CUP PREDICTIONS
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The World Cup. It's time for another one and England will once again be there even if, yet again, none of the other British Isles teams will be joining us. Still South Africa is set to host the first ever World Cup held in Africa in 2010. The European teams will be a long way from home but their fans(at least the ones not travelling out there) will at least be able to watch them in action without having to stay up late or get up early. The qualifying campaign certainly had a lot of eyebrow raisers and while none of the 2010 qualifiers are completely new to the world's biggest football tournament, there are certainly plenty of "long time no sees". So now the flights have been booked, what now?
Group A involves South Africa, Mexico, Uruguay and France. The main standout team here has to be France. This is despite the farcical way Les Bleus qualified for the tournament. The fact is, even though they're not as good as they used to be, they should be able to see off the immediate competition and top the group. So who will join them? Well the one team I have to rule out in South Africa. Lets face it, they wouldn't have qualified, we know this as the CAF qualifying campaign doubled as that for the African Nations Cup and they didn't even make the final qualifying round. So, it comes down to Mexico vs Uruguay and given that the South American side scrapped through by the skin of their teeth I'll say Mexico will win that one.
Group B involves Argentina, Nigeria, South Korea and Greece. Well the big name and seed in that group are the Argies. Diego Maradona is now their gaffer and though their qualifying campaign was messy they should still have enough class to top this group. So who's the best of the rest. It's good to see Nigeria back on the world stage and they'll definately be a factor this time around. South Korea have been around the block a few times as well. Greece, not so much - count them out. So, Nigeria vs South Korea. Well my original instincts are to back the Koreans but there's not so much in it that African support won't be a factor, I'll take a punt on Nigeria in the knockout stages.
Group C is where we find England, USA, Algeria and Slovenia. Well the biggest unanswered question from an English perspective is "can any of the other three teams beat Fabio's Three Lions?" . The answer is "almost certainly no". England should top the group pretty smoothly. So what about second place? Well the USA have to be the best team in their part of the world right now. For Algeria it's their first time at the World Cup since 1986 and so they're the group's wildcards. Slovenia are more of a known entity and not much of a threat. The safe bet says that Algeria should be nothing that the Yanks can't hade so we'll see the Stars and Stripes in the knockout stages.
Group D is where we find Germany, Australia, Serbia and Ghana. Well the Germans aren't as good as they used to be but they should still be solid enough to top the group. At the other end, well the one team I have to count out is Serbia. This makes it Australia vs Ghana for a spot in the knockot stages. Well the Aussies aren't exactly useless, they proved that by topping one of the AFC qualifying groups. However Ghana were on fire in their qualifying and again they'll have home advantage. One thing is for certain, it'll be one heck of a match between the two sides. Still, I'll call it for Ghana to provide a second African team in the knockout stages.
Group E sees Netherlands, Denmark, Japan and Cameroon. Well you really can't look any further than the Dutch as for as topping the group is concerned. As for the other three sides? Well none of them are mugs. Having said that it's Denmark's first time at the World Cup since '98 and their current squad isn't exactly Schmeichal and Laudrup level. Maybe they'll get a reality check. That leaves Japan and Cameroon fighting for 2nd. Well Japan are certainly ambitious but I'm not dead cert they've got what it takes to beat a Cameroon side run by Samuel Eto'o and has plenty of tradition in this tournament. Make it three African teams in the last sixteen.
Group F features Italy, Paraguay, New Zealand and Slovakia. Well the Azzurri weren't the best team around in '06 despite taking the trophy home and they still are beatable but not by any of these teams - they'll top the group smoothly. Lowever down it's where we find not one but two of the surprise packages in qualifying. New Zealand haven't made it to the World Cup since 1982 and their presence in South Africa will just prove how much of a joke the OFC has become. Slovakia I have seen play with my own eyes. They may be at the World Cup for the first time since Czechslovakia broke up but they'll be no threat to anyone halfway serious. Paraguay to make the knockout stages.
Group G has Brazil, North Korea, Ivory Coast and Portugal. First order of business, take North Korea out of the picture, their only previous appearance at the World Cup in 1966 may have gone down in football legend but how they expect to make any impact in 2010 when their players have hardly any exposure let alone experience of football outside Asia I do not know. Other than that, we have ourselves this tournament's group of death. Even so, Brazil are by far the best team of the bunch here so it comes down to Portugal vs Ivory Coast for second place. Another great close match. A theoretically great team that still had to scrape through the UEFA playoffs vs "Drogba FC". That nickname is harsh, the Ivory Coast are probably the best African team in the tournament. Yet for the second World Cup in a row they'll find themselves out of their depth. Portugal to make it.
Group H has Spain, Switzerland, Honduras and Chile. The Spanish fans can't believe their luck their question won't be "can we win all three games?" it'll be "how many goals can we score?". So with their place in the knockout stages sorted, what can we expect from the rest? Well Switzerland are a very average European outfit and another side who'll get a reality check. It's good to see Chile back even though Marcelo Salas has long retired, they had a solid enough qualifying campaign. Honduras are at the party for the first time since 1982 and to the best of my knowledge shouldn't provide much threat. Chile to make the knockout stages.
So, after that, how would things play out?
SECOND ROUND
France vs Nigeria: Les Bleus would probably still have enough class to take care of business here.
England vs Ghana: Another Europe vs Africa clash and this would be a better one. Ghana wouldn't still be nothing we couldn't handle though.
Germany vs USA: This would certainly be an interesting rematch of an '02 quarter final but with the same result. End of the road for the Yanks.
Argentina vs Mexico: This would be a rematch of a second round encounter from '06, probably with the same result. Argies to win.
Netherlands vs Paraguay: The Dutch would have nothing to worry about.
Brazil vs Chile: What would be a rematch of a second round tie in '98 except this would be a lot more one-sided for Brazil.
Italy vs Cameroon: Now this would be tasty and the Azzuri's title defence would probably continue.
Spain vs Portugal: This would be Portugal's turn for a reality check.
QUARTER FINALS
Netherlands vs Brazil: This would be an awesome rumble and rematch of a '98 semi and Brazil would have the edge.
France vs England: What would be another brilliant rumble and the Three Lions would prove themselves the better side right now(OK, I also thought we'd make the semis in '06 but our form under Fabio speaks for itself).
Germany vs Argentina: What would be a semi rematch of the 1990 final and a rematch of an '06 quarter final. It would be tough to call so I'll say Germany to edge it on penalities.
Italy vs Spain: The Azzurri would run out of fuel here and the title would change hands.
SEMI FINALS
Brazil vs England: Ah. This would be a bit of a problem for the Three Lions, the sambaistas are one of the few teams that we know are still capable of outclassing us so so I won't get cocky, Brazil to win.
Germany vs Spain: Rematch of the Euro 2008 final, same result, Spain would win
THIRD PLACE PLAY OFF
England vs Germany: The old rivalry means that this match certainly wouldn't be dull. We also know that the current England team are better than their German counterparts. Three Lions to claim third place, edging the 1990 team.
FINAL
Brazil vs Spain: It would be Spain's first ever World Cup final but these two sides have to be the best in the world right now and Spain would surely take home the trophy.
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